Methodology
The Schedule
Every Wednesday at 1 PM we meet to eat a burger at a different restaurant, working our way through fifty-two weeks. By Wednesday the weekend rush has recovered and the main cook is still on.
The Order
One plain burger is the control. Condiments, lettuce, pickle, onion and sides may follow, but the naked burger always comes first — and the kitchen never dresses it for us.
The Temperature
We like our burgers medium-rare. Anything that climbs past 140 degrees into high-medium, medium-well or well is simply lost to us and cannot earn a good rating.
The Tasting
There must be at least two people at every tasting, because one person's great is another person's so-so. We never announce ourselves, and we never accept comps.
The Review
Each of us writes independently, then we share, discuss and consolidate everything into a single honest verdict. The final answer is the one you actually want: would we go back again.
Automatic Fails
Some things end the review before it can even begin. No matter what else is on the plate, these are non-negotiable.